Washing-machine.



No. 726,'827. I PATENTED APR. 28*, 1903. a. H. RHODES. WASHING MACHINE.

ATTOHNE No. 726,827. PATENTBD APR. 28, 1903.

' G. H. RHODES.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1902. N0 MODEL. I- 2 SHEB'I'B-SHBB-T 2.

WITNESSES: M) i'ENTOI? TNE uoams PETERS w P nowmma. WASHINGTON. u. c.

NITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

GEORGE H. RHODES, OF HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,827, dated April28, 1903. Application filed May 29,1902. Serial No. 109,522. (NomodelJ.To a, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. RHODES, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of 'Healdsbnrg, in the county of Sonoma and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and Improved Washing-Machine, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in washing-machines of that classwhich employ a hollow drum mounted to rock or turn on its axis ofsuspension within a suds-box or'other containing vessel.

In the present invention I employ a peculiar form of drum which issuspended to rock or turn on a transverse axis, and the said peculiarconfiguration of the drum is designed with an especial object offorcibly throwing the fabrics from one side to the other of the drum andof causing those portions of the fabrics which do not come in contactwith the surfaces of the drum to frictionally rpb against each otherduring the oscillation of the drum, whereby all portions of the fabricsare cleansed without exposing them to such violent mechanical rubbing'aswill be liable to tear and injure the clothes during the washingoperation.

With these ends in view the invention consists of a washing-machineembodying novel features of construction and arrangement, which will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of a washingmachine embodying the featuresof my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, the drum being shownin elevation and the receptacle or suds-box in transverse centralsection; and-Fig. 3 is a detail view taken through the cylindricalmember of the drum and looking toward one of the irregular conical sidesections.

A indicates the suds-box, having the usual legs a and equipped with asemicylindrical cover-section B, the latter being hinged, as at b, andadapted to be held in its closed position by a suitable catch b. Thesuds-box may be provided with a strip adapted for. the attachment of thewringer; but as these feausual handle (1, although it is evident thatany suitable mechanical appliance may be adopted in lieu of the crankfor givingthe de sired motion to the drum. The drum is composed ofacylindrical part 5 and the irregular conic parts 6 7. In each of theseconic parts one side of the base is considerably nearer the apex than isthe opposite side.

These parts are made of sheet metal or other material, and the conicmembers have their open ends attached to the ends of the cylindricalpart, so that the apices of the cones are on opposite sides ofthegeometric axis of the part 5. These members are perforated at 10 11for the free passage of the water. From the apices the trunnions Eextend in alinement and have suitable bearings in the suds-box. Thesetrunnions serve to support the oscillatory drum within the suds-box in amanner for the drum to have a rocking motion when the crank or otherdevice is operated, and the peculiar formation of the members 6 7 andthe arrangement of the trunnions thereon serve to support the drum insuch a position that its middle section 5 will lie diagonally in. thechamber of the suds-box, one position of the drum being shown by fulllines and the other position of the drum, when it is given a half-turn,being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The cylindrical section ofthe drum is provided with a hinged cover 12, adapted to have its freeedge secured in place by any suitable fastener, as 13,'said coveradapted to be opened in order that access maybe obtained to the chamberof the drum for thepurpose of placing the clothes therein or of removingthem from said drum.

Each trunnion E may be fastened to the apex of a conical side member byany suitradial arms 14, that are disposed at different angles to thetrunnion in order to bear firmly against the exposed surface of the drummember, said arms being secured to the drum by riveting them in place orby the employment of other suitable fasteners.

The drum of my invention operates so efficiently on the clothes that itis not necessary to provide the interior surface thereof with rubbers;but in Fig. 3 I have shown the cylindrical middle member 5 asconstructed with a plurality of transverse rubbing-ribs 15. These ribspreferably extend in a straight direction across the inner cylindricalsurface of the middle member 5, and they are in alternate relation tothe series of drain-holes 10. It will be understood, however, that theribs may be omit-ted, if desired. The inner surfaces of the irregularconical side members 6 7 of the drum are not provided with rubbing-ribs,and hence these side members present comparatively smooth surfaces tothe fabrics, the latter being free to slide or turn on these surfaces ofthe conical side members during the oscillation of the drum.

In the operation of my improved machine a proper quantity of hot soapywater is placed in the suds-box A, and the cover B of the suds-box, aswell as the cover 12 of the drum,

having been opened the operator can obtain free access to the machine inorder to place the fabrics therein. The cover 12 of the drum is closedand fastened, and the cover 13 of the suds-box is likewise closed andfastened, after which the operator manipulates the crank D by giving ita half-turn in order to impart the desired oscillation to the drum.

The movement of the drum through the hot soapy water causes it tocirculate through the perforations and the chamber of the drum, therebypermeating the fabrics contained in the latter. When the drum turns inone direction through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees, it iscaused to pass from one diagonal position to the other, as indicated byfull and dotted lines in Fig.2,and during this semiturning movement ofthe drum the long inclined surface of one side member is brought inreversed relation to the corresponding surface of the other side member,and the same change takes place in the position of the short inclinedsurfaces of the two side members. This reversalin the positions of theshortinclined surfaces of the irregular conical side members formingparts of the dru m causes the fabrics to be forcibly thrown from oneside to the other of the drum,and these fabrics are adapted to beimpelled from the abruptly-inclined surface of one side member to thelong and slightlyinclined portion of the other side member, down whichthe fabrics are adapted to roll or slide in order to rub frictionallyagainst the perforated surfaces of the drum and to cause the fabrics tofrictionally rub against one another. This operation of rubbing thefabrics takes place during each semiturn of the drum, and in addition tobeing subjected to the rubbing action of the side members the fabricsare rubbed against the perforated cylindrical middle section 5 and theribs 15 thereof,whereby thin delicate fabrics may be Washed thoroughlywithout tearing or injuring them in any way.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a washingmachine, an oscillatory drum comprisinga middle cylindrical memher and irregular conic members, the latterhaving their open ends attached to the ends of the cylindrical member;each conic memher having one side of the base nearer to the apex thanthe opposite side thereof, and the apices of the conic members lying onopposite sides of the geometric axis of the cylindrical member.

2. A washing-machine comprising a suitable receptacle, an oscillatorydrum, the latter consisting of a middle cylindrical member and irregularconic members, said conic members having their open ends attached to theends of the cylindrical member; each conic member having one side of thebase nearer to the apex than the opposite side thereof, and the apicesof the conic members lying on opposite sides of the geometric axis ofthe cylindrical member, a suitable door provided in the cylindricalmember, transverse ribs on the inner active surface of said cylindricalmember, and trunnions projecting from the apices of the irregular conicmembers and mounted in said receptacle to support the cylindrical memberof said drum in a diagonal position therein.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE I-I. RHODES.

Witnesses:

ISAAC S. LEWIS, C. II. ALLEN.

